Door fastener



F. l. RATAICZAK I July s, 1958 DOOR FASTENER 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug.11, 1954 INVENTOR. garzcz's J. flrfaiczal His ATTORNEY.

July 8, 1958 F. l. RATAICZAK DOOR FASTENER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug.11, 1954 INVENTOR.

$021023 J. fidaicza BY HIS ATTORNEY.

July 8, 1958 F. 1. RATAICZAK 2,842,075

DOOR FASTENER Filed Aug. 11, 1954 s Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

I HIS ATTORNEY.

United States Patent DOOR FASTEN ER Francis I. Rataiczak, Dayton, Ohio,assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation ofDelaware Application August 11, 1954, Serial No. 449,072

4 Claims. (Cl. 109-635) This invention relates to door fasteners forhinged doors of refrigerators or the like and particularly toimprovements in safety fasteners.

It is to be appreciated that children do not as a rule become trapped inthe food storage compartment of a refrigerator cabinet so long as thecompartment is being cooled and utilized for the preservation of foodproducts because foods stored in the compartment and on supportingshelves therein render it difiicult if not impossible for a child toenter the compartment. In most instances of children being trapped inrefrigerators and becoming suffocated the refrigerator cabinet has beenstripped of its food compartment shelves and other parts thereof and thecabinet has been discarded without first removing the food compartmentdoor latch. I therefore contemplate the association with a refrigeratorcabinet food compartment door fastener or latching mechanism of a meanswhich will insure the fastener or latch mechanism becoming inoperativefor locking the door tightly shut after the cabinet has been discardedor abandoned to eliminate the hazard of a child entering and beingtrapped in the compartment of the cabinet.

An object of my invention is to provide a door fastener or latch on arefrigerator cabinet which responds to a natural instinct, habit ormanner of a child upon being trapped in the cabinet for permitting thechild to extricate himself or herself from the interior thereof.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved refrigeratorcabinet door latch with means which permits the door to be opened andclosed in the ordinary manner, by manipulating a handle on the exteriorof the door, while the cabinet is being used for the preservation offoods and which means prevents the latch fromlocking the door tightlyclosed when the cabinet is discarded.

A further object of my invention is to associate an electrical meanswith a door latch of a refrigerator cabinet or the like which isenergized and deenergized each time the door is opened by the latchhandle for insuring locking of the door in closed position with a strongforce and to render the latch inoperative for locking the door inresponse to an interruption in the electric current leading to theelectrical means While at the same time permitting the door to belatched to the cabinet with a relatively small force.

In carrying out the foregoing objects it is a still further object of myinvention to provide a latching mechanism for the food compartment doorof a refrigerator cabinet which will overcome the resistance of aresilient gasket on the door or cabinet with a great force to lock thedoor tightly closed, will render the latching mechanism ineffective forthis purpose when the electric circuit comprising the detachableextension cord leading from a source of electric current to therefrigerator is disconnected therefrom and will thereafter permitlatching of the door to the cabinet with only a small force that can beeasily overcome by a pushing on the door from within the compartment.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention 2,842,075Patented July 8, 1958 Figure 3 is a view similar to Figures 1 and Zandshows a spring-pressed jaw-like device of the latch mechanism closedupon the keeper element to tightly lock the refrigerator cabinet closed;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figures 1, 2 and 3 and shows the jaw-likedevice of the latch mechanism locked by the electrical means associatedtherewith;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 1 showingthe relationship of parts of the latch mechanism;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 1 showingrollers on the jaw-like device of the latch mechanism; and,

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic showing of an electric circuit for theelectrically energized elements associated with a refrigerator having myinvention incorporated therein.

Referring to the drawings, for illustrating my invention, I show inFigure 1 thereof an insulated side wall 11 of a refrigerator cabinetstructure having a door jamb provided with a flat surface or. panel 12at the front of the cabinet adjacent to an access opening leading to afood storage compartment provided in the cabinet. A door structure,generally represented by the reference character 14, has an outersurface or metal panel 15 spaced from an inner panel (not shown) andinsulating material 16 is disposed between the door panels. One side ofdoor structure 14 is hingedly mounted upon the refrigerator cabinetstructure for horizontal swinging movement relative thereto and isadapted to have its other side fastened or locked to the cabinet. Door14 is formed with an edge portion overlapping the door jamb frontsurface 12 of the cabinet and has a resilient compressible rubber-likegasket 17 mounted thereon in any suitable manner for sealingly engagingthe cabinet surface 12 to close the food storage compartment in. asubstantially air-tight manner all of which is conventional in the artand readily understood by those skilled therein.

The fastening means for locking door structure 14 tightly closed againstthe refrigerator cabinet structure to seal the food compartment accessopening comprises a latch mechanism including a rigid metal keeper partor element 21 projects through a suitable slot provided in.

the wall surface 12 of the cabinet door jamb and is adapted to extendthrough a suitable slot provided in panel 15 of door 14. The latchingmechanism includes another part mounted on door 14 for receiving andinterlockingly engaging the keeper element 21. This other part of thelatch mechanism is located in a U-shaped metal box or frame structurewithin door 14 and secured to panel 15 thereof in any suitable ordesirable manner. The U-shaped frame structure or mechanism 3. housingincludes two upright side walls 31 and an integral lower connecting wall32. One of the side walls 31 is broken away to more clearly showelements of this other part of the latch mechanism. A plurality ofstationary shafts or studs 33, 34, 35 and 36 are riveted to the sidewalls 31 of the metal frame structure and form a rigid tie therebetween.The lower end of a metal arm 37, having an elongated opening 38 thereinfitting over stud 33, extends through a slot 39 provided in thehorizontal bottom wall 32 of the latch frame or housing. Arm 37 carriesa shaft or stud 41 and a strong coil spring 42 surrounds arm 37 and isheld compressed between the shafts or studs 33 and 41. The upper end ofarm 37 has a shaft or stud 43 thereon carrying a roller 44. An invertedU-shaped arm 46 is pivotally mounted on stationary shaft or stud 34 andhas its one end 47 pivotally attached to the shaft or stud 41 carried onarm 37. The other end 48 of arm 46 carries a stud 49 upon which ismounted two depending sheet metal pieces 51 spaced apart by a roller 52also mounted on stud 49. These depending metal pieces 51 are eachprovided with a vertically elongated opening 53 fitting over thestationary stud 36 and an integral off-set portion 54 carries a stud 55.A roller 56 is mounted on stud 36 intermediate the lower ends of metalpieces 51. Another stud f) riveted to arm 46 has a Ushaped trigger orlook member 57 pivotally mounted thereon. Lock member 57 is adapted torest against stationary stud 35 (see Figure l) and a spring 58 coiledaround shaft or stud 50 has its one end engaging arm 46 and its otherend bearing against member 57 to bias the stop or trigger member 57toward stud 35. The arms 37 and 46 together with their mountings on thestuds 33 and 34 and their cooperation with one another form'a cockableand trippable toggle-joint contrivance. The arm 46 together with rollers52 and 56 provide the latch mechanism with a movable jaw-like device.Trigger member 57 when engaging stud 35 locks both the toggle-jointccntrivance and the jaw-like device of the latch mechanism and must bereleased from this stud to permit operation of the mechanism.

When the door structure 14 is closed to lock the door against therefrigerator cabinet and to compress gasket 17 into tight sealingengagement with panel or surface 12 (see Figure 3) the toggle-jointcontrivance is released by keeper element 21 and the jaw-like device ofthe mechanism is closed upon keeper 21 under the influence of the strongspring 42. In order to open door 14 spring 42 must be compressed topermit moving or opening of the jaw-like device of the latch from theposition thereof shown in Figure 3 of the drawings to the position shownin Figure 1. Spring 42 is compressed and the togglejoint contrivance iscocked open by a series of levers extending through door structure 14and connected to a latch handle (not shown) located on the exterior sideof the door. Any conventional leverage linkage extending from the handleon the outside of door 14 may engage or be suitably connected to a lever61 pivotally mounted upon a stud 62 riveted to upstanding ears 63 on theupright sides 31 of the U-shaped latch housing or frame for swinging theshort end of this lever 61 into engagement with the roller 44 to movearm 37 downwardly and to compress spring 42. Such downward movement ofarm 37 causes arm 46 to pivot about stud 34 whereupon the end 48 of arm46 will be elevated relative to the position thereof shown in Figure 3to its position shown in Figure 1. As the end 48 of arm 46 moves upwardit carries the metal pieces 51, roller 52 and movable stud 55 upwardly.Stud 55 engages the underside of end 24 of keeper element 21 to tiltsame about pin 23 whereupon the hook 26 on element 21 is moved into aposition (see Figure 4) to be passed over stationary roller 56. Keeperelement 21 having been released from the jawlike device, rollers 52 and56, of the latch mechanism a forward pull on door 14 will now ride theunderside of end 24 of element 21 over roller 56 and permit door 14 toopen for affording access to the food storage compartment within therefrigerator cabinet. As the end 24 of keeper 21 moves out of thejaw-like device portion of the latch mechanism spring 58 rotates triggeror lock member 57 into engagement with stud 35 to lock the toggle-jointcontrivance of the latch mechanism in the position thereof shown inFigure 1 of the drawings. Upon closing door 14 the widest portion of theinclined edge surfaces of the arrowhead-shaped end 24 of keeper element21 will enter the jaw-like device to move roller 52; upwardly relativeto roller 56 and arm 46 consequently lifts trigger or stop member 57 offstud 35. Continned closing movement of door 14 causes the end 24 ofkeeper element 21 to move member 57 away from stud 35 (see Figure 2). Atthis moment the togglejoint contrivance is tripped or released and thestrong force of spring 42 causes the jaw-like device, rollers 52 and 56,of the mechanism to close and lock upon keeper 21 (see Figure 3). Theinclination of hook 26 on keeper element 21, riding over roller 56,draws or compresses the gasket 17 tightly between the cabinet structureand the door structure 14- (see Fi ure 3). Door 14 remains tightlylocked against the cabinet and it cannot be opened by force appliedthereto unless the exterior latch handle is again manipulated to forceopen the latch mechanism. The construction of the latch mechanism thusfar disclosed and its action is conventional, is normal and is presentlyemployed on the food storage compartment door of refrigerator cabinetsobtainable on the open market. It should therefore be obvious that if achild would enter the food compartment of a refrigerator cabinetprovided with the latch mechanism as described and the door then beclosed the child would be trapped in the cabinet with no means ofeXtricating himself or herself therefrom.

Since the presently disclosed do r latch is highly desirable andpractical particularly from the standpoint of compressing the doorgasket and providing a tight and uniform seal about the food storagecompartment access opening I desire to modify such a latch mechanism toovercome the hazard of a child being trapped in a discarded refrigeratorcabinet equipped with this type of latch. In accordance with myinvention I associate an electrically energized means with the latchmechanism disclosed and this means includes a suitable or conventionalspring pressed snap acting electric switch, generally represented by thereference character 65, mounted on and carried by the trigger or stopmember 57 (see Figure 1). Switch 65 comprises a button 66 projectingthrough a suitable hole in the bight portion of U-shaped member 57 andengaging an inclined cover plate 67 secured to member 57 and movablerelative thereto. The electrically energized means also includes asolenoid, generally represented by the reference character 69, suitablymounted on a side wall 31 of the latch housing or frame (see Figures 5and 6) and having a rotary plunger associated therewith which carries apin 71. Such rotary type solenoids are now conventional and may beobtained on the open market. The plunger 72 of solenoid 69 (see Figure7) is biased away from windings thereof by a spring 73. Solenoid 69 isso located on the latch housing that spring 73 causes, when the solenoidis deenergized, pin 71 to engage a side edge of arm 37 of the latchmechanism. A cut-out notch 74 provided in this side edge of arm 37 isadapted to receive the pin 71 and wedge the same between arm 37 and thelower wall 32 of the latch housing for a purpose to be presentlydescribed.

The electrically energized means associated with the latch mechanismincludes a portion of a detachable electric circuit connected to asource of electric current supply and leading therefrom to anelectrically operated refrigerant translating unit such, for example, asa motorcompressor-condenser unit of a closed refrigeratingsystemassociated with the refrigerator cabinet. This circuit comprisesthe detachable extension electric cord supplied with a refrigerator andplugable into a wall or the like receptacle connected to a source ofelectric current for rendering the refrigerating system in the cabinetoperative. The closed refrigerating system also includes a refrigerantevaporator (not shown) for cooling the interior of the food storagecompartment of the refrigerator cabinet and suitable conduitsinterconnecting the refrigerant translating unit with the evaporator.

Referring now to Figure 7 of the drawings, the elements in thedetachable electric circuit include a refrigerant translating unit suchas a sealed unit 76 containing an electric motor and a refrigerantcompressor driven thereby. One wire 77 of the detachable ordisconnectable circuit has a branch wire 78 leading to one side of thewinding of the electric motor in unit 76. The other side of the windingin motor of unit 76 is connected by wire 79 to a thermostatic switch 81and to the other wire 82 of the detachable electric circuit or extensioncord of the refrigerator. Thermostatic switch 81 controls starting andstopping of unit 76 in response to temperatures within the food storagecompartment of the refrigerator as is common in the art. The detachableelectric circuit may also include a food compartment illuminating lamp83 and a door operated switch 84 therefor connected across the wires 77and 82 by a branch wire 86 for energizing and deenergizing lamp 83 uponopening and closing movements of door 14. The remainder of this circuitincludes the winding of solenoid 69 connected at one end to wire 82 andhaving its other end adapted to be connected to wire 77 under thecontrol of push button switch 65 contained in the latch mechanism hereindisclosed. The wire connections of elements in the detachable electriccircuit have been omitted from the structural views in the drawings forthe sake of clarifying these views. 6

It is to be understood that when the refrigerator is in use and thehandle on the exterior of door structure 14 is actuated to release thelatch mechanism and permit door 14 to be pulled open the leverageconnection between this exterior door handle =and lever 61 causesmovement of elements of the latch mechanism from the position thereofdisclosed in Figure 3 to the position illustrated in Figure 1. That isarm 37 is depressed against the force of spring 42 causing arm 46 topivot about stud 34 to raise roller 52, metal pieces 51 and lock ortrigger member 57. At this time spring 58 biases member 57 into lockedengagement with stud 35 and the biasing spring 73 of the solenoid 69pulls pin 71 into the notch 74 of arm 37 and into engagement with thebottom wall 32 of the latch housing box (see Figure 1). Strong spring 42is compressed and the toggle-joint contrivance of the latching mechanismis cooked and locked in open position by lock member 57 resting on stud35. The jaw-like device of the latching mechanism comprising arm 46 androllers 52 and 56 is also locked in open position. Upon closing door 14the arrowheadshaped end 24 of keeper element 21 enters the jaw-likedevice portion of the latch between rollers 52 and 56 as shown inFigure 1. Continued closing movement of door 14 will cause the inclinededge portions of the arrowhead-shaped end 24 of keeper element 21 tospread rollers 52 and 56 apart and simultaneously cause trigger or lockmember 57 to be elevated off of stud 35 (see Figure 2). Substantially atthis same time the end 24 of keeper element 21 moves into engagementwith and depresses the cover 67 to consequently depress button 66 of theelectric switch carried on member 57 for closing same. This completesthe electric circuit from wire 77 to wire 82 through switch 65 and thesolenoid 69 to energize same and draw its rotatable plunger 72 thereintoagainst the tension of spring 73. Pin 71, carried on plunger 72 ofsolenoid 69, moves out of the notch 74 in arm 37 (see Figure 2) andstrong spring 42 then elevates arm 37 to cause arm 46 to pivot aboutstud 34 and close the jaw-like device, rollers 52 and 56, upon thearrowhead-shaped end 24 of keeper element21 (see' past the cover 67 onmember 57 onto the lower portion of this member 57 and the spring loadedbutton 66 of electric switch 65 again pushes cover member 67 outwardlyrelative to member 57 for breaking the circuit, wires 77 and 82, tosolenoid69. Pin 71, under the influence of spring 73, will be pulledinto engagement with arm 37 at a point below the notch 74 therein.

Door 14 may be unlocked or unlatched exteriorly thereof for openingmovement relative to the cabinet as hereinbefore described to bringelements of the latching mechanism into the position thereof disclosedin Figure l regardless of whether or not the detachable electric circuitis connected with the source of electric current supply. However if thisdetachable circuit is disconnected from the source of electric currentfor any reason such, for example, as when the refrigerator cabinet is tobe discarded and the cabinet door 14 is subsequently opened, to moveelements of the latching mechanism from the position thereof shown inFigure 3 to the position shown in Figure 1, spring 73 will pull pin 71into the notch 74 of arm 37 when this arm is moved down by manipulationof the exterior latch handle. The toggle-joint contrivance of the doorlatching mechanism is blocked in the open F position shown in Figures 1and 4 and its jaw-like device is now incapable of being influenced bythe strong spring 42 whereby keeper element 21 is prevented from beinginterlocked with roller 56. Even if door 14 is slammed shut withconsiderable force the keeper element 21 cannot trip the toggle-jointcontrivance while it is blocked by pin 71. Should a child enter the foodcompartment of the refrigerator cabinet after this subsequent opening ofdoor 14 and the door then closed the toggle-joint contrivance beingblocked, by pin 71 fitting in notch 74 of arm 37 and abutting the wall32 of the latch housing, prevents the jaw-like device of the fastener orlatch mechanism from closing or locking upon the keeper element 21. Thisclosing of door 14 causes the arrowheadshaped end 24 of keeper 21 toenter the jaw-like device between the rollers 52 and 56 (see Figure 4)and the door gasket 17 is uncompressed and may be spaced slightly fromthe surface 12 of the refrigerator cabinet. The small space between theuncompressed gasket 17 and face 12 of the refrigerator cabinet presentsthe advantage of permitting some light and air to enter the foodcompartment thus reducing the likelihood of a child trapped in thecompartment becoming panicky or being suffocated. It will be noted thatin this latched position of door 14 the tip of hook portion 26 on keeper21 has ridden over the stationary roller 56 and come to rest on stud 55.By virtue of arm 37 being locked in its lower position together with theincreased leverage now afforded thereto by arm 46 the lower tip of hookportion 26 of keeper element 21 may be readily forced back over the topof roller 56 with a minimum of effort to open door 14 without actuatingthe latch handle on the exterior of the door. In fact a small force,capable of being exerted by a child trapped in the food compartment ofthe refrigerator cabinet, applied directly to door 14 will ride thelower tip of hook portion 26 on keeper element 21 back over stationaryroller 56 and cause the door to swing open about its hinged mounting.When this force is applied to door 14 keeper element 21 tilts upwardlyabout its pivotal mounting stud 23 against the tension of light spring28. Thus I provide a latching mechanism for a door of a refrigeratorcabinet which becomes inoperative to hold the door locked in closedposition when the refrigerator is disconnected from a source of electriccurrent and is to be discarded or abandoned. Reference to locking door14 as herein employed is to be distinguished from locking the door witha key. As herein employed locking of door 14 is the normal closing ofthe door which latches the same shut against being opened by pressureapplied to the door in order that the door will tightly compress gasket17.

From the foregoing it should be apparent that I have provided animproved door fastener or latching 1116C}- anism which insures that thecompressive resistance of a door gasket will be overcome upon closingthe door to insure an effective and uniform sealing of the foodcompartment access opening of a refrigerator cabinet, while the same isbeing used for the preservation of foods, and which mechanism becomesinoperative automatically for locking the door closed with a strongforce after the refrigerator has been disconnected from a source ofelectric current supply. My improved door fastener or latching mechanismwhen rendered inoperative for holding the door locked will respond tonatural instincts of a child, upon being trapped in the refrigeratorcabinet, and permit the child to push on the door and extricate himselfor herself from, within the cabinet. The im proved door latch eliminatesthe necessity of drafting laws or ordinances forbidding the discardingof an old refrigerator before removing the door, its hinges and/or itslatch and obviates the hazard of children becoming. trapped in adiscarded refrigerator cabinet even if such laws are violated.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as here in disclosedconstitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted, as may come within the scope of the claims whichfollow.'

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a portable refrigerator, a cabinet structure having a compartmenttherein provided with an access opening and a door structure adapted toclose said opening, a refrigerating system associated with saidrefrigerator including an electrically operated refrigerant translatingunit mounted therein, an electric circuit detachably connected to asource of electric current and leading therefrom to said unit, afastening device for said door structure, said fastening devicecomprising a keeper element on one of said structures and a manuallyactuated latch mechanism carried by the other of said structuresincluding a keeper latching means normally interlockable with p thekeeper element for latching said door structure in tightly closedposition against said cabinet structure, a lever on one of saidstructures for actuating said latch mechanism to break the interlockbetween said keeper latching means and said keeper element to open saiddoor, electrically operable means incorporated in said manual latchmechanism having a connection with said electric circuit, means forcontrolling said electrically operable means, said unit,'said circuit,said electrically operable means and said control means all beingmovable with the portable refrigerator upon transporting same from onelocality to another, said electrically operable means being energizedsolely in response to engagement of said keeper element with saidcontrol means upon moving the door into closed association with saidcabinet to cause said keeper latching means to mechanically interlockwith the keeper element for latching the door closed after being openedby said lever, and said electrically operable means being deenergized bydisconnecting said detachable circuit from said source of electriccurrent for rendering said keeper latching means ineffective tointerlock with said keeper element to. prevent latching of the doortightly closed whereby said door thereafter remains in an ajar positionwith respect to said cabinet.

2. A refrigerator of the type defined in claim 1 in which the door isopenable by a pressure applied thereto from within the compartment whilethe keeper latching means is noninterlockable with the keeper element.

3. in a portable refrigerator, a cabinet structure having a compartmenttherein provided with an access opening and a door structure adapted toclose said opening, a resilient gasket on one of said structures forsubstantially sealing said opening, a refrigerating system associatedwith said refrigerator including an electrically operated refrigeranttranslating unit mounted therein, an electric circuit detachablyconnected to a source of elec tric current and leading therefrom to saidunit, a fastening device for said door structure, said fastening devicecomprising a keeper element on one of said structures and a manuallyactuated latch mechanism carried by the other of said structuresincluding a keeper latching means normally interlockable with the keeperelement for latching said door structure in tightly closed positionagainst said cabinet structure to compress said gasket between thestructures, a lever on one of said structures for actuating said latchmechanism to break the interlock between said keeper latching means andsaid keeper element to open said door, electrically operable meansincorporated in said manual latch mechanism having a connection withsaid electric circuit, means for controlling said electrically operablemeans, said unit, said circuit, said electrically operable means andsaid control means all being movable with the portable refrigerator upontransporting same from one locality to another, said electricallyoperable means being energized solely in response to engagement of saidkeeper element with said control means upon moving the door into closedassociation with said cabinet to cause said keeper latching means tomechanically interlock with the keeper element for latching the doorclosed after being opened. by said lever, and said electrically operablemeans being deenergized by disconnecting said detachable circuit fromsaid source of electric current for rendering said keeper latching meansineffective to interlock with said keeper element to prevent compressionof said gasket between the structures and latching of the door tightlyclosed whereby said door thereafter remains in an ajar position withrespect to said cabinet.

4. A refrigerator of the type defined in claim 3 in which the door isopenable by a pressure applied thereto from within the compartment atall times the keeper latching means is noninterlockable with the keeperelement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,361,317 Dulczewski Dec. 7, 1920 2,253,252 Smith Aug. 19, 19412,461,426 King Feb. 8, 1949 2,467,815 Curtiss Apr. 19, 1949 2,584,480Mantling Feb. 5, 1952 2,655,395 Groeger Oct. 13, 1953 2,662,787 HorvayDec. 15, 1953 2,727,772 Hamilton Dec. 20, 1955 2,752,188 Bachi June 26,1956

